Different From or Different Than

Many non-native English speakers create sentences like: "My mom is much different than other moms". This probably stems from the fact that many language use their counterparts of than with different. Using the phrase different thanis acceptable (and commonly used), however you will be better off sticking to different from.

How is college different from high school?

Her world was different from ours in many ways.

You are so much different from what I have heard.

"So when can I use than?" you may ask. The phrase different than is nonstandard but acceptable when a full clause expresses the object of comparison (in bold).